The NFL rumor mill never stops. That is the nature of the beast. It’s always about how much credence you should put into them. Take the Chicago Bears, for example. They’ve been bombarded by recent whispers of being a top landing spot for disgruntled running back Jonathan Taylor. He is officially on the trade market and looking for a new home. Bears coach Matt Eberflus has ties to him, and the team is a run-oriented offense. However, it’s hard to imagine GM Ryan Poles paying a premium draft pick and large contract to a running back, especially when the team already has three capable bodies at the position.
Now, another big name is floating around. All-Pro defensive lineman Chris Jones is fresh off helping the Kansas City Chiefs win their second Super Bowl in four years. As a result, the 29-year-old feels he’s entitled to a pay raise. However, the Chiefs haven’t been willing to meet his price. So he’s been holding out from training camp and has even made it clear he’ll do the same for the entire first half of the regular season.
This has inevitably led to speculation Jones could be traded. Kansas City has insisted publicly that won’t happen, but NFL history says that can change fast. This is where it gets interesting. According to NFL Notifications, a Twitter handle with a semi-decent reputation for accurate rumor reports posted this on the Jones situation.
Jones to the Chicago Bears would be a game-changer.
Poles has already done credible work retooling the defense this offseason. Yannick Ngakoeu and DeMarcus Walker help invigorate the edge rush spots. Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards have upgraded the linebacking corps. The one thing most feel is missing from this unit is an interior pass rush presence. Justin Jones is an okay player, but not anything special. Rookies Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens have potential. Neither is proven yet. Now imagine what would happen if they dropped Jones into the middle of that new defensive front.
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The four-time Pro Bowler already has 65 sacks in his career. He is a dominant presence that can’t be blocked without double teams, and even that isn’t enough at times. There is no question he’d make the Chicago Bears better. Is the rumor credible, though? Poles obviously has ties to Jones. The GM was with the Chiefs when they drafted the defensive lineman in 2016. Chicago has two 1st round picks next year. So they have the ammunition to make a deal.
They also have enough cap space to meet Jones’ desired price tag of $30 million per year. Truth be told, it doesn’t feel likely. While Jones would be a phenomenal addition, Poles doesn’t seem like the guy who’d give up that much for a player who turns 30 next year. Maybe he feels Jones is worth the risk, but his track record says otherwise.
29 year old DT on last year of his deal… conditional 4th round pick.
This is not a game changing move. Jones is a nice player who would fill a need for Chicago. Then by default he would render 4 players acquired via draft/FA worthless. Jones won’t make a difference. The Bears have an injury prone line, rookie and 2nd year starting DBs, a 2nd year SS and a QB who hasn’t really done anything to prove he an NFL caliber PASSER.
Adding a DT doesn’t remedy that.
I think some people are getting hung up on the contract. NFL contracts are a joke. People said that Washington couldn’t sign Payne, well they did. And they are going to sign Sweat this offseason. You tell Jones you’re giving him a five year contract and release him in two. It happens every year. If the rookies are any good we’ll be set by then. Definitely worth a mid to late round first round pick.
I’m surprised so many people are against this. Jones is a very good player. Our first round pick is going to be in the late teens at the earliest. Secondary is set. Linebacker is set. This move would complete the defense. I’d much rather have our young linemen learning from Chris Jones instead of Justin Jones. Good defensive linemen play well into their mid 30s. Plus if Will Anderson was actually a generational talent that means there isn’t going to be a great end prospect to come out for another 20 years. If the Chiefs don’t get a deal done… Read more »
No, no, no, makes no sense at all and it would actually hurt the rebuild of our team. You don’t make moves just to make moves. This team can make it to the playoffs if there isn’t too many injuries and without Chris Jones